Swimmer&#39;s vest



1 July 21, 1925.

J. L. CURLE SWIMMERS VEST Filed Oct. 20, 1924 1/4/7755 4. far/e ATTORNEY Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED.v STATES JAMES L. OURLE, 0F HELENA, MONTANA.

SWIMMER S VEST.

Application filed. October 20, 1924. Serial No. 744,775.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. CURLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Helena, in the county of Lewis and Clark and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Swimmers Vests, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the provision of an inflatable vest to be worn under the bathing suit of a swimmer so as to insure his safety when in the water.

A further object is the provision of a safety device for swimmers, either experts or amateurs, in the nature of a vest com* prising a central body portion having an inflatable pocket on the outer face thereof and being integrally formed with straps, one having its inner portion in the nature of a yoke through which the head of the user is passed, the end of this strap and the other strap in a line therewith being buckled together over the back of the wearer, while the remaining straps are arranged around the waist and also buckled on the back of the wearer.

The drawings which accompany and which form part of this application, illustrate a satisfactory embodiment of the improvement, and wherein v Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the improvement in applied position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation with parts of the improvement in section.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the improvement.

' Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The body of the improvement may be constructed of any suitable fabric and is indicated by the numeral 1. The body is substantially diamond-shaped in plan and has centrally arranged upon its outer face a heart-shaped pocket 2 of rubber or other light waterproof material. The top of the pocket, at the outer face thereof, is formed with a downwardly directed flange 3 which is connected to the pocket at the top and at the sides thereof. The flange provides a protector for a spring influenced normally closed valve 4 that communicates with a port 5 in the pocket. The valve is of the class ordinarily employed upon pneumatic tubes and is designed to be engaged by an air pump when the pocket 2 is to be inflated. A pressure upon the valve stem will release the air from the pocket 2.

Integrally formed with and extending from the body 1 are lateral straps 6 respectively, one of which carrying a buckle 7 at its outer end to engage the other strap when the straps are arranged around the waist of the wearer, as disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The body 1 is also formed with end straps. The upper end strap 8 has its inner portion divided at its connection with the body, providing a space 9 between the angle inner ends of the said strap, and through this space the head of the wearer is designed tobe passed. The second end strap, indicated by the numeral 10, carries a buckle to be engaged by the strap 8. The strap 10 is passed between the legs of the wearer.

The device is positioned upon the wearer and the pocket inflated before the wearer assumes his bathing suit. The inflated pocket, being arranged upon the chest of the wearer, will efl ectively buoy him so that he can swim an indefimte period without liability of drowning. The device is designed for both expert and amateur swimmers, and its construction and advantages will, it is thought, be apparent from the foregoing description.

Having described claim.

1. A swimmers vest comprising a body portion having an inflatable pocket on the outer face thereof and having longitudinal and lateral straps integrally formed therewith, one of the longitudinal straps having its inner end divided at its juncture with the body, and means for connecting the lateral and longitudinal straps together, for the purpose set forth.

2. A swimmers vest comprising a fabric body of substantially diamond-shaped formation, an inflatable heart-shaped pocket on the outer face of the body, a valve communicating with a port in the pocket, a protective flange on the pocket overlying the the invention, I

Valve, said body having its sides and ends provided with extensions forming straps, one of said straps being provided with a buckle for engagement with the other strap, one of said straps being divided at its juncture with the body to provide an opening for the passage of the head of the wearer of the device, and the said lateral and end straps designed to be connected to gether when arranged over the back of the 10 wearer.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES L. CURLE. 

